EMI Enters Into Worldwide Partnership With Dean Martin Trust - Broadens Music Deal to License Name, Image and Likeness

EMI Enters Into Worldwide Partnership With Dean Martin Trust - Broadens Music Deal to License Name, Image and Likeness

Deal Between Record Label and Solo Artist Trust Goes Beyond Traditional Catalog Recording Agreements

Adds to Portfolio of EMI's Innovative Artist Relationships for Both Recording and Non-Recording Aspects of Artists' Careers

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In a deal that adds to its existing catalog recording agreement, EMI Music has entered into a worldwide exclusive partnership with the Dean Martin Trust to act as agent for licensing Martin's name, image, and likeness. EMI will continue to market Martin's expansive Capitol Records and Reprise Records recording catalogs on a worldwide basis.

The Dean Martin/EMI arrangement is another in a growing portfolio of groundbreaking relationships EMI is forging with artists around the world to oversee non-recording aspects of musicians' careers, such as merchandising, touring and publishing in addition to their recording careers and record catalogs, as the company has done with artists such as Robbie Williams and the rock band KORN.

Martin's record sales worldwide have topped 50 million units, including EMI's 2004 platinum release, "Dino: The Essential Dean Martin," a 30-track CD which became Dean Martin's fastest-seller ever, entering Billboard's Top 200 chart as that week's highest new entry.

"The Dean Martin Trust's new partnership with EMI Music provides for a globally seamless approach to Dean's music, name, image and likeness," said Laura Lizer, Dean Martin's business manager and Trustee of the Dean Martin Trust. "We look forward to collaborating with EMI in these areas as we continue to share Dean's artistic vision and unparalleled cultural image with a worldwide audience."

"We're delighted to deepen our relationship with Dean Martin. It's part of EMI's objective to offer a more full-service approach," said David Munns, Chairman and CEO, EMI Music North America. "As the label, we are an integral part of creating artists brands, so it's a natural progression to extend our involvement beyond the traditional recording deal. Ultimately, it helps to ensure all our interests are aligned."

"Dean Martin is a world-class entertainer whose relevance and cultural impact are as strong in 2006 as when he was recording at Capitol Studios," said Ronn Werre, President of EMI Music Marketing. "We are honored and excited to partner with Laura Lizer and share in her vision for the Dean Martin Trust, nurturing and creatively propelling Dean's music, image and iconic status as the King of Cool around the world."

Martin is again in the spotlight with the release of the newly-expanded "Christmas With Dino" album on CD and digitally. This season, the evergreen holiday classic includes a new duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with country music superstar Martina McBride, recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood -- the same studio where Martin cut his original version of the song. Released September 12 by Capitol/EMI, the 17-track CD features holiday classics from Martin's Capitol and Reprise catalogs and newly mixed and remastered alternate recordings of "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" "White Christmas," and "Winter Wonderland."

A 2004 Playboy magazine feature named Dean Martin "The coolest man who ever lived" and explored the broad appeal of his timeless brand of cool, explaining, "Dean provides smooth, winking succor to generations anew." The charismatic aura of the man who knocked the Beatles from the top chart position at the height of Beatlemania continues to evolve today. Martin's recordings are heard regularly in modern-era movies, television shows and commercials. Domestic film and television synch licenses for Martin's music in recent years include advertising campaigns for MasterCard, Heineken, Microsoft, and Carl's Jr. and uses in the hit TV shows "The Sopranos" and "The West Wing." Internationally, Dean's music has recently been featured in advertising campaigns for Peugot and Marriott Hotels.

The jovial warmth of Dean Martin's voice continues to beguile with a winning style and just a touch of mystery. With global album sales totaling more than 50 million units and DVD sales in the millions for his TV variety show and roast specials, Dean Martin is as vital today as he has ever been across generations of fans around the world.

Source: EMI Music

CONTACT: Jennifer Ballantyne of EMI Music Marketing, +1-323-871-5494; or
Jeanne Meyer, +1-212-786-8850, or Adam Grossberg, +1-212-786-8855, both of EMI
Music

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos available upon request.

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